Paulus Hook

Paulus Hook is a neighborhood of Jersey City, New Jersey. It was first settled by the Dutch in 1633 and named for Micheal Paulez, a ferry operator and trader. On 25 February 1643, 100 Native Americans were massacred by the Dutch in the vicinity of Paulus Hook. During the American Revolutionary War, patriot colonists built several forts to defend the western banks of the Hudson River, and one of these forts was built at Paulus Hook. The fort came under British occupation following the American defeats in New York, but Henry Lee III led a successful raid on Paulus Hook on 19 August 1779, damaging the fort and taking 158 prisoners. On 22 November 1783, three days before the evacuation of New York City, the British evacuated Paulus Hook. Due to the construction of a ferry in 1764, Paulus Hook became a major road and rail head for Northeast Corridor traffic, and a railroad station with links to Newark was established in 1836. During the mid-20th century, the Pennsylvania Railroad's operations shifted to Newark Penn Station and New York Penn Station, and ferry services from Paulus Hook to Manhattan were discontinued. During the 21st century, the arrival of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and a construction boom following the 9/11 attacks led to gentrification in the area. It is now known for its outdoor seating restaurants and for its high real estate prices.